When students walk into the first floor of Thompson Commons, the smell of coffee is usually the first thing that triggers their senses. But as you sniff your way towards the place of origin you will begin to hear some tunes.

Music, which helps to characterize the barista behind the counter, can be heard from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays when Park University’s coffee shop is open for business.

The Pirate Ground Coffee Shoppe is stationed in the center of a busy hub. Student Life, Campus Safety, Warrior Center, the cafeteria and a large study lounge all surround the shop making it difficult for students, staff and guests to pass up that cup of Joe.

At the Pirate Grounds there are a variety of options to choose from. The drink menu alone lists 30 hot and cold drinks, each one contains different variations and flavors within. This can equate to over 150 possibilities.

In total, five Park students are responsible for memorizing and then creating these drinks.

“It didn’t take me long at all,” said junior athletic training major Alante Eberhart. “After a couple days you get the hang of it, you use the utensils at first…but once you get it down you don’t want to use all that other stuff because you can kind of eyeball the measurements yourself.”

Now in her second semester as a barista, Eberhart is confident that she can hang with the barista experts.

“Now, I feel like I could go work at Starbucks,” she said.

Dion Landis, sophomore social psychology major, is in his second semester as a barista as well.

“Barista is really different because I actually had to learn about drinks, as where before I’ve always learned about food,” he said. “I didn’t know what a cappuccino was. I didn’t know what anything but a coffee was…I didn’t even know how to make coffee. And now I’m here and I feel like I’m a genius.”

Working at the Pirate Grounds gives work-study students the opportunity to mingle and express themselves all while on the clock. So for Eberhart, the choice was easy.

“Why not work at the coffee shop, everybody is always here…I get to see everybody,” she said.
Landis agreed.

“I’m very social…I need to talk to people,” he said. “And, the music. I freaking love music, so the music is a big plus.”

But it’s not just the employees who reap the benefits. Attendees can find excitement from Pirate Grounds as well.

From the hours of 2 to 4 p.m., the Pirate Grounds offers happy hour pricing so drinks are 50 percent off.

Due to the sudden happy hour crowd at 2 p.m., the baristas’ multi-tasking skills are put to the test.

“I try to make two drinks at a time…during happy hour, during any time if there are so many people that are trying to order,” said Eberhart. “Because you never know if they are ordering the same thing, you can be making the same drink at the same time.”

“For me…I’ll make an espresso while cleaning..,” said Landis. “You can’t just wait there and wait for the espresso to be done… that’s time you’re wasting. You could be doing something for the other part of the (order).”

Both Eberhart and Landis plan to work at the Pirate Grounds again next year.

Although their hours may change from time to time based on class schedules, they said they are pleased with all the opportunities it has to deliver.

“I just think of this as the ideal job,” said Landis.

“You have school and then right from school you have work right on campus. You don’t have to drive anywhere.”